Trevor Project works to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ youthFrom a press release2016-09-06

Los Angeles, CA  During National Suicide Prevention Month this September, The Trevor Project, the only national accredited suicide prevention and crisis intervention resource for LGBTQ youth under age 25, is using various forms of digital media to engage with hundreds of thousands of people about the many ways they can make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ youth. As part of these plans, The Trevor Project will be launching a billboard in Times Square inspiring people to take part in the fight to save young LGBTQ lives. They will also be joining the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Take 5 to Save Lives, and SAMHSA for their #BeThe1To campaign, which inspires people to connect, communicate, and care about suicide prevention.

One supportive person can prevent suicide, which is in the message of The Trevor Project's new Suicide Prevention Month campaign. The rate of suicide attempts is four times greater for LGB youth and two times greater for questioning youth than that of straight youth. Nearly half of transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives, and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt. This campaign aims to show LGBTQ youth that they are welcome, they are loved, and they deserve support.

"Many times, people who are feeling suicidal feel powerless. They may want to reach out for help, but shame may prevent them from doing so. Sometimes, the ones they love may not know how to offer help. Trevor's campaign empowers both those in crisis and those wanting to help to start connecting and forming more supportive environments for all," says Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project.

In an effort to show that we can all play a part in suicide prevention and crisis intervention, The Trevor Project has created an online PSA and will be debuting several new suicide prevention guides to empower people to start communicating and connecting about suicide so that LGBTQ youth in crisis feel empowered to get the care they need.

Through their new PSA starring actor Kira Kosarin, daughter of a volunteer at Trevor, The Trevor Project highlights their digital crisis services and online curriculum, Lifeguard, to show how accessible suicide prevention and crisis intervention can be. Joining Trevor's PSA campaign on other videos will be actor, activist, and writer Benjamin O'Keefe and Futurehood rapper Kaycee Davis, who are contributing to The Trevor Project's conversation on intersectionality. human I-T, LGBT Tech, and Straight But Not Narrow will also be contributing a PSA, sharing how The Trevor Project's PowerON campaign brings refurbished electronics to homeless LGBTQ youth so that they can get connected to Trevor's lifesaving resources.

Trevor's shareable guides and posters will allow all to take part in raising awareness about suicide prevention, either digitally or in the classroom. With Trevor's Self-Care Guide, people in crisis can see how to take care of themselves at home, school, or in public. With Trevor's Suicide Prevention Guide, people who are unsure about how to offer help or people who don't know how to ask for help can find ways to connect, communicate, and get care. And, with Trevor's Back to School Guide, Trevor offers ways for schools, classmates, teachers, and youth-serving professionals to offer support and a more welcoming environment to LGBTQ youth in crisis.

To show LGBTQ youth that their lives matter, share Trevor's PSA or any of their suicide prevention guides at: thetrevorproject.org/SaveLGBTQLives. Communicating and connecting about suicide can be the first step towards empowering LGBTQ youth to get the care they need.

Add The Trevor Project's Twibbon to your profile pic here: twibbon.com/Support/suicide-prevention-month. Share any of the messages below to support The Trevor Project's lifesaving resources on social media during National Suicide Prevention Month.

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential lifeline, educational materials, online resources, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.TheTrevorProject.org .

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